A five-time WTA titlist and former World No.11, Peer went over a year without making a quarterfinal until doing so in Katowice in April. She made another one last month in Budapest, then went all the way to the final at her most recent outing in Baku - her first WTA final in two years.

It should be no surprise to see Peer play well in Asia, as the majority of her WTA titles have come on the continent, and she looks poised to contend for her first WTA 125K Series title in light of her 76(6) 63 defeat of Zarina Diyas in Suzhou second round action. And in more good news for the third-seeded Israeli, she is likely to re-enter the Top 100 based on her performance this week.

Also advancing to Thursday's quarters was No.1 seed Timea Babos, who after taking a 62 40 lead lost five straight games before winning three in a row for a 62 75 triumph over Michaela Honcova.

"I think I played pretty decent," Babos said. "Up 62 40 I had a bit of concentration problems. But I'm happy that I ended up finishing the match in two sets."

Babos also was victorious in first round doubles action later in the day alongside Michaella Krajicek.

"I usually play singles and doubles, so I'm kind of used to it, though it's probably not ideal in this heat," Babos said. "But I'm happy that I could play with Michaella. I think we're a good team and enjoy playing together, so it's all good."

Next up for Babos is the oldest player in the draw, seventh-seeded 36-year-old Tamarine Tanasugarn, the only seed to be taken to three sets on a perfect day for seeds that also saw second-seeded Misaki Doi, fourth-seeded Zhang Shuai and sixth-seeded Zhou Yi-Miao move on in straight sets.